men of straw
Preserved but no longer current.
Meaning · English
Hired bail, so called from having straw stuck in their shoes to distinguish them.
Era: ca. 1811 (Georgian)
Where it’s used:
Origin
British & Irish English
Sources & notes
Historical definition reproduced from Grose’s Dictionary of the Vulgar Tongue (1811 edition, public domain; Project Gutenberg #5402, retrieved 2026-07-31). Reflects the attitudes of its era.
Common questions
What does “men of straw” mean?
Hired bail, so called from having straw stuck in their shoes to distinguish them.
Is “men of straw” formal or informal?
No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.